Jstet



D. N. McCHESNEY.

MACHINE FOR DRYING COPRA.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1914.

l 1 96, 1 28 Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

DAVID N. MCCHESNEY, OF MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

MACHINE non DRYING COPRA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed April 10, 1914. Serial No. 20,588.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID N. MoCHEsmay, a citizen of the United States of rmerica, residing at Manila, Philippine Islands, have invented a new and useful Machine for Drying Copra by the Application of Heated Air, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for dryiug comminuted material and has special reference to a device adapted to dry cocoanut meat or what is commonly known as copra.

One principal object of the invention is to improve the general construction of devices of this description.

A second object of the invention is to provide means whereby one of any one of a series of compartments may be used for drying when one or more of the other compartments are being emptied.

A. third object of the invention is to provide means whereby the flow of air may be controlled to any compartment.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide means to force warm air into any selected compartment.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of the improved copra drier. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof partly in section. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of one of the dampers controlling the air pipe.

In the present embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a casing 10 within which is located an inner casing 11 provided with racks 12 to receive drying trays 13, this inner casing being divided by partitions 14c longitudinally and transversely into a series of compartments 15 normally closed by hinged doors 16 having latches 17 Adjacent one end of the casing 10 is a furnace 18 wherein are burned the cocoanut shells and such other refuse as may occur in the production of the copra. From this furnace extends a flue 19 which leads entirely around the space between the inner and outer casings and terminates in a stack 20. Above the furnace 18 is provided a chamber 21 having baffles 22 therein. The purpose of this chamber is to heat air supplied from a fan 23 and from the chamber 21 leads a plurality of flattened pipes 24 which pass beneath the stacks of trays 13 in the compartments 15, the flattened pipes lying just above the lower run of the pipe or flue 19 so that the air is not only heated in the chamber 21 but also in its run below the several stacks of drying trays 13. Beneath each stack of drying trays the pipes 24 are provided with dampers 25 controlled by handles 26 operated from the exterior of thecasing 10 so that air may be admitted from these pipes 24 to any one of the stacks at will. Each of these stacks is furthermore provided with an outlet 27 for the hot air having a damper 28 therein. Each of the upper doors for each stack is also provided with a damper 29 and thermometer 30.

In operation, the trays containing green copra arecharged in the stacks and the furnace 18 started. The hot gases of combustion pass through the flue 19 around the inner chamber or series of compartments and out through the stack 20. Meanwhile the fan 23 drives air through the chamber 21 and pipe 24, the latter terminating at the forward end of the casing 10. The dampers 25 and 28 are so regulated that the flow of air through the respective stacks is controlled in such manner that the air is properly heated and passes ofi from the respective stacks after absorbing the moisture from the green cocoanut and drying the same, the temperature being regulated by observation of the thermometer 80. Also, the temperature in the individual stacks may be regulated by the dampers 29.

Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being provided with damper controlled openings in each of said compartments.

2. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being provided with damper controlled openings in each of said compartments, each of said compartments being provided'with a damper controlled opening in its upper part.

3. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being located above and in proximity to the first pipe in the bottoms of said compartments and being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper parts in each compartment.

4. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being located above and in proximity to the first pipe in the bottoms of said compartments and being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper parts in each compartment, each of said compartments being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper part.

5. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being provided with damper controlled openings in each of said compartments, and means to force air through the second pipe.

6. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of

a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being provided with damper controlled openings in each of said compartments, each of said compartments being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper part, and means to force air through the second pipe.

7 The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being located above and in proximity to the first pipe in the bottoms of said compartments and being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper parts in each compartment, and means to force air through the second pipe.

8. The combination with a casing having a series of tray receiving compartments, of a heater, a pipe leading from the heater through all of the compartments, an air pipe leading through the compartments above the first pipe and in proximity thereto whereby to receive heat therefrom, said second pipe being located above and in proximity to the first pipe in the bottoms of said compartments and being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper parts in each compartment, each of said compartments being provided with a damper controlled opening in its upper part, and means to force air through the second pipe.

In witness whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

D. N. MCOHESNEY. \Vitnesses:

C. W. OBRmN, S. W. OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents- Washington, I). C. 

